Pneumatic tire for vehicles.



C. B. TITUS.

PNEUMATIC Tm: r011 VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1907.

94s, 1 93, Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

EKEBTFr-S ET ia i. 2 H 1 i mfg p-f G. E. TITUS.

PNEUMATIC TIRE FOR vzmcmzs.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20, 1907.

A Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

2 SEiIETS-BHEET 2.

FZUf/ Z0; Carias 1;. 22 22a: zw x/s/ 25 .16, 3 6 ZJZ 2686 35 STATES PATENT GFFECE.

CHARLES E. 'II'IUS, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC TIRE FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1919.

Application filed July 20, 1907. Serial No. 384,805.

I is a specification.

This invention relates to pneumatic or cushioned tires for vehicles, in .which the propelling force is applied directly from the axle to the tread of the wheel; and the obect thereof is to provide a tire with means, ..s hereinafter set forth, which acts as an armor for the tread of the tire, thereby reducing the wear thereof, as well as preventing puncturing and overcoming any liability of the tire skidding or side slipping.

F urthcr objects of the invention are to provide an armor for the tread of a tire which shall be simple in its construction, having the elements thereof so set up as to be conveniently applied to the cover, strong, durable, efiicient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of tread elements with respect to the tire cover, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of an armor for the tread of a tire, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. y

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to the accom anying drawings wherein like characters enote corresponding parts throughout the'several views and in which- Figure 1 is a cross section of a tire cover with the tread members connected thereto to constitute an armor for the cover; Fig. 2 is a top plan View showing an armor constructed of a series of tread members of one form; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the trend members shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another of the tread elements as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a plan showing a plurality of tread members of a modified form arranged to constitute an armor; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the tread members shown in Fig. 6; Fig.

8 is a perspective view of one of the tread merbers employed. in the outer row of elements when the armor is constructed from the tread members shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9

.is a perspective View of another form of tread member; Figs. 10 and 1 are plan views showing a plurality of tread members of the form illustrated in Fig. 9 arranged to constitute an armor; Fig. 12 is a like view showing a different arrangement of members similar to that shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a modified form of tread member; Fig. 14 is a section of the member shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 illustrates in section another modified form of tread member; Fig. 16 illustrates another form; Fig. 17 illustrates a tread nail having its shank split, and, Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the tread nail secures the tread member to the cover.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, the armor for the cover 1 of the tire is formed from a series of tread members termed tread reinforcing members, each of which is secured to the cover t rough the medium of a tread nail, and preferably formed of metal.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the tread members which form the central row of the tire are indicated by the reference character 2. i

In Fig. 5 the construction of the tread members 2 is clearly shown and each of these members has pointed ends 3, straight sides 4 and a beveled ridge 5 extending entirely around the upper face 6 of the member. The

ridge 5 conforms in contour to the shape of the member. The member 2 is furthermore provided with an opening 7 through which extends the shank S of a tread nail. The nail is formed with a rounded head 9 and the shank 8 extends through the cover 1 and has its inner end bent around a retaining stri 10 which prevents withdrawal of the trea nail. The bent end of this shank 8 is indicated by the reference character 11 and extends into the inner face of the cover as indicated at 12.

The tread members of the other rows of the armor; with the exception of the members of the outer rows, are indicated by the reference character 13. T he construction of the members 13 is clearly shown in Fig. 3

and each of them is formed with a ointcti end 14, aV-shaped d 15 and straig .t sides 16. Extending ent rely around the upper 111611 13935 13 will interengnge.

face 17 of the member 13 is a beveled edge 18, which conforms in contour to the shape of the member 13. The letter is formed with an opening 19 through which extends a tread nail for securing it in position in the same manner as that referred to with respectto the members 2. The V-slmped end 15 of each of the members 13 which are arr'an ed at the sides of the members 2, is adapter to receive a pointed end 3 of a member 2 so that the members 13 will interengage with the members 2. The members 13 which are arranged alongside of each other are so disposed thet one of the members 13 will have its V-shaped end receive the pointed end 14 of an adjacent member so that the said- The tread members of the outer rows of the armor ere indicated by the reference character 20 endf are each provided with e V-sheped end adapted to receive a pointed end 14 of the member 13. The members .20 are flat upon. their upper faces, or in other words are not provided with a. bead. Each of the members. 20 is furthermore provided with a countersunk opening 22 to receive a head 23 of a. trend nail. The tread nails for the members 20 are secured to the cover in the some :uuuner us the trend nails of the memhers 2.v The trend member 20 gives support to the inner rows of tread members in case of the heads of the tread nails abutting against stones or glancing otf of stones or other obstructions.

The trend members as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 are substantially cruciform in contour and are each indicated by the reference character 2- Each of the members is formed with u ceutrellyarranged opening through which is adapted .to extend a tread nail for securing the member in position. Each of the members 24: is firthermore provided on its upper face with a beveled ridge 26 which extends entirely around the margin thereof. The members 2% when set. up are adapted to intcrengage with one another in a manner as shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig; 8 is shown a tread member indicated by the reference character '27. Such form 0": trend member is used for the outer rows of trend members when the armor is formed from the interengaging of :1. pinrality of tread members '24. The tread'mem bcrs 27 are not provided with :1 beveled bend on the upper face. but such members are cruciform in contour and one side, as at 8., tapers ofi'. Each of the trend members 27 is formed with a countersunk opening, 29 to receive the bend of a trend nail. he members 2T well :15 the members '24, are secured to the tire cover in the same manner as the members 2.

In Fig. 9 a modified form of tread mem' her is shown which is substantially "quure in contour and is indicated by the reierence overcomes an liabilit tread members from tearing out if the tire should ride hard on a stone,bringing the strain on the outer rows of tread members, and owing to the fact that the tread members do inter-engage it helps to equalize the strain. The projecting ends of the trend neilsect as a means to prevent skiddin or slipfimg, and furthermore the beveled ri ges of the members tend to slew obstructions ofi the members during the travel ofthe wheel and also tend to slew an obstruction against the face of th; tread members.

The trend members being separate elements, each of which is free to act and move with the tire body, thus allow perfect resiliency, and, furthermore an'urmor constructed in a manner as set forth obtains perfect traction, no heating from friction, insures durability to the tire or the tire cover and of puncturing the tread of the tire, as we 1 as preventing skidding or side slip ing.

In Figs. 10 an 11 the armor is shown as formed of e. lurality oftreud members constr'ucted 51ml er to that shown in Fig. 9, the trend members being so disposed as to break the joints.

In 12 the armor is shown as consisting of a. plurality of tread members similar to the construction shown in i l diagonally disposed with respect In Fig. 13 e modified fonu her is shown which is uform in contour and has iv crncirapper face formed with a groove with the wall thereof substantially V-sha ed as at 34. The element is referred to y the reference character 35 and is formed with a countersunk opening 36 to receive the head of a tread nail.

In Fig. IQ is shown a tread member substuutially diamond-shaped in contour and which is indicated by the reference character 37. The upper face of said member 37 is provided with a groove 38 which extends entixrly around the margin thereof.

shown in F ig. 15 is used when itis not desired to employ separate tread nails. The

shank 40 is connected in the same manner -i reinbefore referred to.

17. and 18 a tre d nail construe tion is shiiwn which embodies a conicalsbaped head 43, a shank 4d, the latter having its free end split to form prongs 45, 46. \Vhen the shank is inserted through the tire cover the prongs 45 40 are clenched around a washer -17 which securely connects the tread nail to the coverl il'lzat I claim 1. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a pluraiity of separate tread members, and meaufor fastening each tread member separately to the tread portion of the tire, said tread members being arranged in contcrm nous relation in parallel rows and intor-matching throughout the series, thereby nesenting a continuous unbroken armored surface, said members also having edges formed with beveled ridges which abut the ridges of the adjacent members and form therewith projections having inclined sides.

2. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a plurality of straight edged separate tread members having projecting ridges circumseribing their edges and means for securing each member, separately to the tire, the members being arranged as a series to present an unbroken armored tread area.

An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a plurality of separate tread members and means for fastening each tread member separately to the tread portion of the tire, SBd tread members having opposite ends of wedge and reentrant angle formation, the

' wedge end of one member fitting into the reentrant edge of the other member, said memhers also havin edges formed with beveled ridges which abut the ridges of the adjacent members and form therewith projections having inclined sides.

4. An armor for pneumatic tires comprising a plurality of similarly shaped tread units, each having straight edges bounded by a conformably shaped outwardly projecting ridge having a perpendicular outer face and a beveled inner face.

An armor for pneumatic tread units comprising a plurality of tread units arranged to resent a continuous unbroken armored sur ace and having as a series, angularly disposed, outwardly projecting and tapering ridges associated therewith.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

CHARLES E. TIT US. itnesses JOHN Tommy HAWKINS. TREFFLE MAnsaM. 

